NEW DELHI: A twin-seater Jaguar trainer aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during a routine training sortie near Bhanoda village in Churu district at approximately 1:25 pm. Both pilots onboard – Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sindhu (32) and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh (23) – tragically lost their lives in the incident.
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The aircraft had departed from Suratgarh Air Base and was flying at low altitude when it went down in an agricultural field without causing any civilian casualties or property damage.
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Witnesses reported a large plume of smoke and scattered debris, with one eyewitness recounting that a pilot seemingly “tried his best to protect the village” before the impact.
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Local emergency services, including IAF helicopters, police, and fire teams, reached the site promptly to contain the situation.
Two Pilots Killed
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Squadron Leader Lokender Singh, hailing from Rohtak, Haryana, had recently welcomed a newborn son just a month ago and leaves behind a devastated young family.
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Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh was from Pali, Rajasthan, and was an esteemed member of the IAF’s cadre.
A Pattern of Concern
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This crash marks the third Jaguar jet loss since March 2025:
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March 7: Crash near Panchkula, Haryana—pilot ejected safely.
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April 2: Crash near Jamnagar, Gujarat—one of two pilots killed.
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July 9: Current crash in Churu, Rajasthan.
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The recurring incidents have renewed scrutiny over the operational safety of ageing Jaguar aircraft, some over four decades old and without modern auto-ejection systems.
Official Response & Investigation
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The IAF issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss and affirmed support for the bereaved families.
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A court of inquiry has been constituted to determine the root cause of the accident.
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Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Governor Haribhau Bagade conveyed condolences and ensured full administrative support to emergency teams.
The crash underscores concerns about safety in low-level training missions, where the pilots have little time to respond to emergencies. With the IAF planning to replace Jaguars with modern platforms like the HAL Tejas Mk1A and future AMCA by 2035, such incidents reignite debates on balancing upgrade costs and safety
